blasket island boatmen ltd

Operated co-operatively by local boatmen. Boats are purpose built vessels, fitted with all available safety features. (Inflateable life-rafts, firs extinguisher, life-jackets, radios, radar, echo sounder, O.P.S. etc). They are inspected and licensed yearly by Dept. of Marine Surveyors. The crew of each boat have experience over many years and hold skippers tickers, fire fighting, V.H.F., Radio, electonic navigation systems, water safety diploma, etc. Round the Island Cruises & Angling trips are also available. Ferry boats leave Dun Chaoin Pier daily every half-hour from 10.00am.

Life was always hard on the Great Blasket. The land was not very fertile, but each household grew its own potato crop, kept a cow, plus a small flock of sheep on the Island hills. Turf was cut near the highest point and drawn home by donkeys, The sea provides the mainstay of the islands economy. Fresh and salted fish made up a large proportion of the diet, lobsters and mackerel were sold to Dingle fish merchants. All cooking and heatig came from the open fire, which was kept going all year round. The islands population varied from one to over two hundred people. It was an extremely hard life, the Island had no doctor, nurse or priest, pub or shop, and the only contact with the outside world was a naomhog (curragh) crossing to Dun Chaoin then an eight mile trip over the mountain of Dingle

The most westerly land in Europe are a unique group of Islands, inhabited for thousands of years, they were finally abandoned in 1953, when the last inhabitants were moved to the mainland. On the Great Blasket, life has stood still, there is no electricity, no phone, no television, no cars, only the sound of the sea, they cry of the gulls, unspoilt beaches, extraordinary bird life and a uniquely peaceful atmosphere. No similar sized community in any part of the world has produced such a wealth of grat literature. We recommend that you come early, visit the houses of the famous writers, swim on the magnificent White Strand, or walk back the four miles to the west end of the Island. The Island café provides the best of home cooking at very reasonable prices. Return to Dun Chaoin in late afternoon.